Jaguars wide receiver Justin Blackmon will miss the first four games of the 2013 season. / Robert Mayer, USA TODAY Sports

by Mike Garafolo, USA TODAY Sports

by Mike Garafolo, USA TODAY Sports

The NFL suspended Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Justin Blackmon for the first four games of the 2013 regular season for violating the league's substance-abuse policy, an AFC spokesman announced Tuesday.

The suspension will cost the Jaguars their top target for a quarter of the season. It could cost Blackmon a lot more.

The fifth overall pick in the 2012 draft, Blackmon will lose $289,754 in base salary over those four weeks. The suspension likely will void almost $11 million in remaining guaranteed payouts over the rest of his four-year contract.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Eric Wright recently lost a grievance in which he tried to have the voiding of his guarantees overturned.

Wright's suspension was for a performance-enhancing drug, specifically Adderall. Blackmon's suspension is for substance abuse.

"I've made a mistake and I have no excuse. I am truly sorry and disappointed in myself for putting the Jaguars in this situation, and I look forward to putting this behind me and maturing and growing as a person," Blackmon said in a statement. "I will have a productive training camp and preseason with my team, and during the suspension I will work hard to stay in top football shape and be ready to help the Jaguars when I return. I have chosen to be accountable for my poor decision, and I sincerely apologize to my teammates, coaches, the front office and Jaguars fans for the impact of my mistake on the team."

Blackmon will miss the opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, road games against the Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks and the Sept. 29 home game against the Indianapolis Colts. He's eligible to return to the team the Monday after the Colts game. He can participate in all preseason practices and games.

Blackmon was arrested for DUI in 2010 and again last summer. Last year, he pled guilty and received a deferred sentence, which meant no jail time and only fines. Multiple DUIs might have landed Blackmon in the league's confidential substance-abuse program.

The suspension leaves a shaky Jaguars offense even thinner for the first month of the season. Blackmon had 64 catches for 865 yards and five touchdowns in his rookie season. The team signed veterans Mohamed Massaquoi and Isaiah Stanback and drafted South Carolina receiver Ace Sanders in the fourth round.